Reeling in perfection? Tarpons looking to make history

GALLIANO — The South Lafourche Tarpons have compiled an impressive résumé on the gridiron over the years.

Since the school opened in 1966, the South Lafourche football program has captured two state titles (1971 and 1977) and either won or shared 14 district titles.

Despite all of that success, the one thing that has been a rarity for the Tarpons is an undefeated regular season. In fact, it happened only once — the 1966 season — when the Tarpons finished as the Class AAA runner up.

With wins in its final two games, this season's South Lafourche team can match the 1966 team's mark of finishing with an undefeated regular season.

South Lafourche enters Friday's game against H.L. Bourgeois with a 7-0 overall record and a 4-0 mark in District 7-5A. The Tarpons can clinch at least a share of the district title with a win over the Braves.

The Tarpons, ranked eighth in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Class 5A poll, close out the regular season next week against Thibodaux. Two wins in the next two weeks would give South Lafourche the outright district crown.

But finishing undefeated in the regular season was not the Tarpons' No. 1 goal this season.

"We want to bring winning back to this community," senior quarterback Colby Callais said. "Right now, with the new coaches, it looks like it is happening. If we can continue to stay hungry, we can have a memorable season."

Senior wide receiver Treavon Evans said the players were determined to turn things around and win a district title.

"Our goal is to win our district and focus on the task at hand every week," he said. "Our main goal has always been to get to the playoffs."

After winning a district title in 2009, the Tarpons struggled the past two seasons, finishing with 4-6 and 5-5 records. South Lafourche opted to make a coaching change and brought in Dennis Skains to turn things around.

Skains said the change has gone smoothly after he inherited a team hungry to get back to the playoffs.

"We always felt like we had a good team, and it’s going as we planned it," he said. "Obviously, we are trying to keep it going and finish up the last two. One of our goals is to get a home playoff game so we can put ourselves in the best position in the playoffs to make a run at it."

Senior defensive lineman Chris Berry said the players have been working hard in practice to turn things around.

"When we got a new coach, it seemed like everybody wanted to come out and play football," Berry said. "Everybody has the energy and intensity, and everybody is hungry for wins. It makes you feel good when you are winning."

Skains said he has always been familiar with South Lafourche's rich football tradition and believes the Tarpons should contend for the playoffs every season. As for the team's No. 1 goal heading into the season, Skains said it was getting back to the state playoffs. Having a chance at a district title and an undefeated regular season is lagniappe.

"At the end of the season, we'll probably look back at it and be very proud of it," Skains said. "But this group is more focused on our main goal, which is getting the best spot possible in the playoffs and making a run at it. The district title is something you can look back at and be proud of, but the main thing now is getting enough power points to get a good spot in the playoffs."

The South Lafourche seniors know what it takes to win a district title and reach the playoffs. They were freshmen on the 2009 team.

Evans said it's exciting knowing that they have a chance to follow in the footsteps of the 2009 squad.

"Getting a chance to do it as seniors is a great feeling for all of us," he said. "By looking at us in practice, we knew we could do it. We were running around and showing everyone that we wanted it."

Callais said the team has remained focused throughout the season to make this a memorable one.

"Our team was real focused," he said. "We set a plan back in the spring with what we wanted to do. Ever since then, we took advantage of what we needed to do every day."

Although a perfect regular season record is in sight, Skains said the Tarpons are focusing on other goals — a district title and securing a home playoff game.

"An undefeated season is something special that they will always remember, but I think they are more focused on the task at hand," he said. "We are just trying to focus on the goals in the order they come up."

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